How to Build A Window Greenhouse

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Once the wooden parts are cut and assembled, you can secure the dome at its lower edge with wood screws.
Once the wooden parts are cut and assembled, you can secure the dome at its lower edge with wood screws.
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This miniature window greenhouse is the perfect Saturday afternoon building project and—unlike the permanent commercially available designs—fits into the window opening like a portable air conditioner.
This miniature window greenhouse is the perfect Saturday afternoon building project and—unlike the permanent commercially available designs—fits into the window opening like a portable air conditioner.
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End view of installation.
End view of installation.

Here’s a window greenhouse that you can build in an afternoon.

How to Build A Window Greenhouse

Plant-quality daylight may be sparse inside your home, but you need only reach out for a full helping of the sun’s radiance. If you have a conveniently located double-hung window (the type with a lower sash that slides upward), there’s no reason why your indoor plants can’t enjoy plentiful sunlight in a window greenhouse. (See the window greenhouse diagram in the image gallery).

This miniature window greenhouse is the perfect Saturday afternoon building project and–unlike the permanent commercially available designs–fits into the window opening like a portable air conditioner. Even if you’re not much of a woodworker, assembly should be painless. All that’s needed is a 42 inch by 46 inch section of 3/4 inch exterior plywood, a 7 foot length of 1 by 4 pine, several feet of tapered casing or drip cap molding, the assorted hardware called out in the illustration and a 46 inch acrylic window-well cover (the kind that’s used to shield basement windows). As for tools, plan on using a drill, a screwdriver and a jigsaw (to cut the wood to shape).

Begin by opening the lower window sash completely and measuring the vertical distance from the sill to the sash’s lower seal, then the horizontal distance between the side casings. If a storm window is installed, be sure to allow for its frame if necessary. Use our illustration as a cutting guide, but remember that your window’s dimensions are the ones that count.

  • Published on Nov 1, 1987
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